MURFREESBORO – An official announcement from the Commission on Colleges of the SACS accreditation body launched Chowan University into another exciting new chapter of its 160-year history – offering Master’s Degrees.

The founding of Chowan University’s School of Graduate Studies follows the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) approval of Level III status for the historic Christian campus, further expanding Chowan University’s calling of service for educating the area.

“The significance of this action cannot be overstated,” explained CU President Christopher White, “For it is a commendation of Chowan’s academic quality, fiscal soundness and prospects for continued growth.”

To meet the greatest need of Chowan’s primary constituency of eastern North Carolina and eastern Virginia, Chowan University’s first Master’s program will be in Elementary Education with classes beginning in the Fall of 2010.

The new program will be based on a two-year format designed specifically in mind for already employed teachers to further their own educations to the next degree, while still maintaining their current full-time employment. Classes would be offered at night to conveniently fit into their schedules and commutes.

Chowan’s new School of Graduate Studies would offer the only Christian university Master’s Degree program east of North Carolina’s I-95, and the only Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education within a 60 mile radius.

“Chowan University championed this cause for the sake of the region as a whole, to first meet the regional needs,” said CU Associate Provost Dr. Kirk Peterson, recently named Dean of the new School of Graduate Studies. “By using a dynamic approach, in the Chowan way, we’re following the best practices that will lead to exceptional faculty throughout the area, which will lead to improving future leaders and growth for the region.”

The Master of Education Degree in Elementary Education is only the first in line for Chowan University’s School of Graduate Studies, with several other disciplines like Psychological Counseling, Business Administration and Sports Management vying for Masters programs to begin shortly after.

This announcement follows closely on the heals of other recent milestones for Chowan University this year including a record enrollment breaking the 1000 student goal, Hawks Volleyball winning their first championship in CU’s new CIAA conference, and several campus improvement projects like the successful renovation of the historic 1851 Columns Building.

For more information on Chowan University’s new School of Graduate Studies and our Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education, contact Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Dr. Kirk Peterson, at peterk@chowan.edu.